Japan’s market for light commercial vehicles (between 2.0-4.5 tons gvw) fell by over 13% to 49,514 units in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales affected by the covid resurgence in the second half of the year and by the resulting global shortages of semi-conductors. Full-year sales were just slightly lower at 230,968 units after a 13% decline to 267,007 units in the previous year.  

The Indonesian market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw continued to recover strongly in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales rising more than 60% to 47,210 units from a depressed 29,423 units a year earlier, based on AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of industry data. 

The pickup truck segment expanded by 45% to 6,256 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after declining by 7.5% to 4,312 units a year earlier, resulting in a 44% rise in full-year sales 17,533 units. This segment is now entirely made up of models imported as built-up units from Thailand. The rebound in mining activity last year, driven by surging commodity prices, helped drive the segment’s recovery after a 34% decline in 2020. 

The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in the Philippines continued to recover in the fourth quarter of 2021, by over 23% to record 28,223 units after declining by 32% to 22,860 units in the same period of the previous year, according to www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of data sourced from the industry. 

Sales of pickup trucks increased by over 13% to 15,002 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after declining by 17% to 13,227 units in the same period of the previous year, as the economy continued to rebound from sharp declines in 2020. Full year sales were up by almost 20% at 48,101 units following a 41% decline to 40,187 units in 2020. 

The Malaysian commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw expanded by 5.4% year-on-year to 19,915 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after rebounding by 25% to 18,893 units in the same period of the previous year, according to www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of industry data. 

The Malaysian market for pickup trucks increased by almost 12% year-on-year to 14,685 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after surging by 37% to 13,145 units in the same period of the previous year, resulting in a 21% rise in full-year sales to 39,832 units after a 4% fall to 33,034 units previously.  

December 2021 saw Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (FUSO) of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, announce it has agreed to collaborate with Tokyo-based Orix Corporation to provide clients of its battery-powered trucks with environmentally-friendly (green) electricity. 

The South Korean Ministry for Land, Infrastructure & Transport in late December 2021 announced that trials of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in real logistics operating environments had begun to help determine accurately the full eco-system requirements before these vehicles are introduced commercially.  

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) of Kawasaki City in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, has upgraded its range of light-, medium- and heavy-duty Fuso trucks for the 2022 season in Taiwan to meet Euro VI emission standards.  

Volvo Trucks Korea Co Ltd of Yongsan-gu, Seoul in February announced it plans to introduce a battery-powered heavy-duty truck onto the South Korean market in 2023, as it looks to strengthen its position as the leading imported truck brand in the country. 

Industrial conglomerate, Indonesia’s Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) announced in December it is now focused increasingly on expanding its renewable energy business and is working on supplying battery-powered electric vehicles (EV) for the country’s public transportation network.